‘Nell’ Eleanor Gwyn (Gwynne) (1651–1687)
after Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680)
Category
Art / Oil paintings
Date
circa 1675
Materials
Oil on canvas
Measurements
1244 x 991 mm (49 x 39 in)
Place of origin
England
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall (Children's Country House), Derbyshire
NT 653191
Summary
Oil painting on canvas, ‘Nell’ Eleanor Gwyn (Gwynne) (1651–1687), after Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680). A three-quarter-length portrait of a young woman, seated and turned slightly to the left, head inclined to the left and gazing at the spectator, her dark brown hair falling in ringlets on her left shoulder, she is wearing a white decollete robe, with her left arm resting on a lamb on the right, her right fingers touching a garland, in a garden; behind to the right is a fluted column, distant landscape view to the left. Actress and mistress of Charles II. She had two children by Charles, Charles Beauclerk (1670 - 1726) Duke of St Albans and James Lord Beauclerk 1671 - 1680 died at the age of 9 years).
Provenance
Acquired from 10th Lord Vernon in lieu of death-duties after the death of Francis Lawrence William Venables-Vernon, 9th Lord Vernon (1889 -1963) and transferred to the National Trust in 1967 through the National Land Fund
Credit line
Sudbury Hall, The Vernon Collection (acquired through the National Land Fund and transferred to the National Trust in 1967)
Marks and inscriptions
After Sir Peter Lely
Makers and roles
after Sir Peter Lely (Soest 1618 – London 1680), artist